BLU-RAY REVIEW

Freeway Killer

Featured In Issue 148, May/June 2010

Picture3
Sound4
WSR Score3
Basic Information on new release titles is posted as soon as titles are announced. Once reviewed, additional data is added to the database.
(Studio/Distributor):
Image Entertainment
(Catalog Number):
FP16408BD
(MPAA Rating):
R
(Rating Reason):
Strong brutal violence, some graphic sexuality, drug use and language
(Retail Price):
$35.98
(Disc Type):
Single Side, Single Layer (BD-25)
(Widescreen Edition):
Yes
(Full Screen Edition):
No
(Running Time In Minutes):
88
(Color Type):
Color
(Chaptered/Scene Access):
Yes
(Closed Captioned):
Yes
(Regional Coding):
A
(Theatrical Year):
2009
(Theatrical Release):
Yes
(Direct-To-Video Release):
No
(Disc Release Date):
02/16/10
(THX® Digitally Mastered):
No
(Director):
John Murlowski
(Screenplay/Written By):
(Story):
(Music):
(Director Of Photography):
(Production Designer):
(Visual Effects):
(Costume Designer):
(Editor):
(Supervising Sound Editors):
(Re-Recording Mixers):
(Executive Producers):
(Co-Producers):
(Producers):
(Academy Awards):
(Principal Photography):
(Theatrical Aspect Ratio):
(Measured Disc Aspect Ratio):
(Disc Soundtrack):
DTS HD Lossless 5.1
(Theatrical Sound):
(Theatrical Re-Issue Soundtrack):
(DTS Bit Rate):
(Dolby Digital Bit Rate):
(Additional Languages):
(French Language):
(Spanish Language):
(Chinese Language):
(Subtitles):
(Cantonese Language):
(Mandarin Language):
(Japanese Language):
(Italian Language):
(German Language):
(Portuguese Language):

William Bonin (Leet) aka the "Freeway Killer," terrorized California motorists as he rode the endless highways searching for his next victim. The discarded bodies tuned up beaten, sexually assaulted, and horribly mutilated. Deceptively charming and intelligent, the scheming murderer easily avoided police at first. But as police closed in and the killer's pattern grew more erratic, the only question was: how many more would die? (Gary Reber)

Special features include commentary with Director John Murlowski and Writer David Bike, the featurette "Freeway Killer: Captured" (SD 11:28), and the theatrical trailer.

The 1080p 1.78:1 AVC picture exhibits a generally natual color palette, with balanced contrast. The filming is non-stylized and low budget. Fleshtones appear genally natual, but resolution is rather soft and undistinguished. The imagery is just medioce but serves the telling of this horrific creepy stoy. (Gary Reber)

The DTS-HD Master Audio™ 5.1-soundtrack presents an aggressive soundfield and deep bass foundation that enhances the intenseness. The music score is the highlight, with its eerie presence that penetrates the surround channels and energizes the bass. At times atmospheric sound effects effectively enhance the soundfield. Both the music and bass, at times, are aggressively energized for effect. The .1 LFE channel extends to below 25 Hz. Dialogue is intelligible and generally well integrated spatially and is occasionally directionalized, but poorly so. Without the music and intermittent sound effects, the sound is monaural focused. This is an eerie soundtrack that delivers effective tension. (Gary Reber)